Air India to Launch Direct Flights to New York-JFK

Air India continues to boost its global network by announcing a new direct service between Mumbai and New York and five new European destinations. The new nonstop route between New York (JFK) and Mumbai (BOM) will start in February 2023, while new flights to Paris (CDG) and Frankfurt (FRA) will also begin early next year. In addition, Air India will also be resuming direct services between New Delhi (DEL) and Copenhagen (CPH), Milan (MXP), and Vienna (VIE).

In the airline’s U.S. market, a direct route between Mumbai and San Francisco (SFO) has also been announced, which is set to commence as early as December 15. This new link to SFO complements the airline’s current services from New Delhi and Bengaluru (BLR).

The new routes are part of Air India’s plans to expand its global network, focusing on growing markets in the U.S. and Europe. “This expansion comes as the airline continues to make progress in augmenting its fleet with newly leased aircraft and the return of existing aircraft to active service,” said Air India in a press release.

Air India’s Mumbai-New York route is set to start on February 14, 2023. It will be operated daily with a Boeing 777-200LR, which has a total capacity of 238 passengers across three cabins, including eight seats in First Class and 35 in Business Class.

The new flights will complement the carrier’s existing daily service between JFK and New Delhi and its four-weekly Mumbai to Newark Liberty Airport (EWR) flight.

Air India’s direct service from Mumbai to Paris is set to start in the first quarter of 2023, with three weekly flights planned. In addition, a four-weekly service between Mumbai and Frankfurt is also expected to launch around the same time.

Photo: Bandra Worli Sea Link – Mumbai. Courtesy of Sid Saxena / Unsplash

The flag carrier of India will also resume its direct service between New Delhi and Milan from February 1, with four weekly flights. Meanwhile, nonstop flights from the Indian capital to Vienna will operate three times per week beginning on February 18, while the New Delhi-Copenhagen service will commence on March 1 and run three times per week.

Air India’s flights to Europe will be operated with a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, with 18 Business Class seats and 238 in Economy.

“A key element of our five-year transformation plan, Vihaan.AI, is to strengthen India’s global network, connecting India’s major cities with even more destinations,” said Campbell Wilson, CEO of Air India. “The introduction of these new nonstop flights to New York, Milan, Vienna, Copenhagen, Paris, and Frankfurt, is another step in that journey, which will accelerate as our aircraft fleet expands. We look forward to welcoming guests and sharing Air India’s warm Indian hospitality with them.”